Constitution (2007)

1. Name; Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne

2. Objects; To promote the history, historic environment, historic buildings, traditions and institutions of the town of Sittingbourne and its locality by research, study, education, publication and other appropriate means.

3. Membership; (a) All persons not less than 16 years of age shall be eligible for membership. Any person who wishes to become a member of the Group must be proposed by one member and seconded by another and must submit an application in writing signed by themselves and the proposer and seconder to the Secretary. Election to membership shall be in the discretion of the Committee which may refuse an application without giving any reason.
(b) A member whose subscription is in arrears shall not be entitled to any of the rights of membership. A member whose subscription is more than three months in arrears shall automatically cease to be a member / may have membership terminated by the committee without being given prior notice.
(c) The Committee may expel a member when, in its opinion, it would not be in the interests of the Group for that person to remain a member. A member shall not be expelled unless he or she is given at least 14 days notice to attend a meeting of the Committee and written details of the complaint against them and shall not be expelled unless at least two thirds of the Committee then present vote in favour of the expulsion.

4. Meetings; General Meetings shall be held four times in every year and at such times as the Committee shall decide, one of these must be the Annual General Meeting being held in the quarter ending 30th September. Special General Meetings shall be summoned by the Committee within thirty days by requisition of not less than ten per cent of the membership. At least twenty one days' notice shall be given in all cases.

5. Administration; By an Honorary President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer (who shall be ex-officio members of the Committee) and a Committee of not more than ten Group members, all elected at the Annual Meeting to serve until the next Annual Meeting. The Committee shall make an appointment to fill any vacancy that may arise between Annual Meetings. In the absence of the Chairman at any meeting, an Acting Chairman shall be appointed for that meeting.

6. Voting; Members shall have one vote each at meetings; the Chairman or Acting Chairman shall have an additional casting vote should the voting be equal.

7. Quorum; At any meeting of the Committee shall be five members and twenty members at General Meetings.

8. Subscriptions; The amount and categories of membership subscriptions shall be set by resolution of the membership by resolution carried at a General Meeting by two thirds majority of those present and voting, twenty one days' notice of such resolution having been given, and shall apply from the date subscriptions next fall due until varied by another resolution under this rule.

9. Expenses; All expenses incurred by the Members and Officers with the authority of the Committee shall be repaid from the subscription income; in particular Group income may be expended on such insurance as the committee deems appropriate.

10. Constitution; Shall be altered only by Resolution carried at a General Meeting by two thirds majority of those present and voting, twenty one days' notice of such Resolution having been given.

11. Dissolution; Can only be approved by a Resolution of a majority attending a General Meeting, forty one days' notice of such Resolution having been given, to include the Committee's recommendation as to disposal of the remaining funds and all other property of the Group.